December 20, 2015 Fort Hood victims set to receive Purple Hearts, combat status Congress is set to make victims of the 2009 Fort Hood shootings eligible for Purple Hearts and combat injury benefits after the Obama administration has denied them the status for the past five years.
December 20, 2015 Ex-Pentagon official Carter emerges as leading contender for secretary, amid confusion over pick In typical Washington Beltway form, an unconfirmed news report Tuesday morning that President Obama had picked Ashton Carter to be his defense secretary later was repeated by a top Republican senator to another news agency, which then urgently reported it as fact -- sourcing the senator.
December 20, 2015 Obama approves sending up to 1,500 more US troops to Iraq President Obama has approved sending up to 1,500 additional U.S. troops to Iraq, more than doubling the number being deployed to help Iraqi forces fight the Islamic State.
December 20, 2015 Defense Secretary pick will be a challenge for Obama The job opening of Defense Secretary is emerging as a thanks-but-no-thanks opportunity, as some of the top potential prospects have already said they’re not interested in the job.
December 20, 2015 Ex-Defense official Michele Flournoy takes self out of running to succeed Hagel at Pentagon Flournoy had been discussed as a front-runner for the position after Hagel announced he was quitting Monday.
December 20, 2015 Ugly ouster: 'Frustrated' Hagel faces unfair sniping on way out, says McCain Ousted Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel had become "very, very frustrated" in the post before President Obama sought his resignation, according to a key lawmaker, who blasted the White House for a whispering campaign that accompanied the Pentagon boss' abrupt ouster Monday morning.
December 20, 2015 Sen. Reed, ex-Defense official Michele Flournoy surface as possible Hagel replacements The expected resignation on Monday of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel immediately sparked speculation about potential replacements including the name of Michele Flournoy, who if appointed would be the first female to hold that post.
December 20, 2015 Hagel: Islamic State presents new challenge to US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is calling the Islamic State group "an incredibly powerful new threat."
December 20, 2015 Hagel says US speeding up training of Iraqi forces to fight ISIS Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the U.S. military is accelerating its efforts to train and advise Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State militants.
December 20, 2015 Hagel announces new Pentagon research and development program Wary of a more muscular Russia and China, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Saturday the Pentagon will make a new push for fresh thinking and creative ideas about how the U.S. can keep and extend its military superiority despite tighter budgets and the wear and tear of 13 years of war.